Start using objects with Artboard
As already discussed in my previous articles, the artboard provides us with multiple functions to work upon. In this you can
position, rotate, scale 2D and 3D objects using tools (selection tool)
from the toolbox. Also you can add multiple controls, Layouts, text boxes or 2D
vector objects to the artboard.
Now let's start with :
Adding vector objects :
When you start a new project the left hand side panel shows list of tools
available for creating applications. These tools are specially arranged in the
toolbox according to their types for example. vector objects are placed
together, layouts in one toolbox, panels in one and similarly others are
arranged as well. We need to add vector object so select button from the toolbox
and add it to the artboard either by dragging it to the artboard or by double
clicking it. Now button appears in the artboard.
Drawing Tool :
You are also capable of creating hand made drawings in Blend, this feature
enhances the usability of blend to meet the purpose of creating polygons in the
applications. Drawing is done through pencil, pen and line tools.
Pencil Tool : In order to start with drawing select pencil tool by
clicking pencil tool in the toolbox, this tool can also be selected by holding
down the mouse on pen tool and then a pop up window appears now select pencil
tool from this window. and add it to the artboard.
You can start drawing rough
free hand paths with the pencil tool by holding down the mouse button while moving the
mouse freely on the artboard. A pencil drawing is shown in the fig. below.
Pen Tool : Similar to selecting the pencil tool, you can select the pen tool as
well. After selecting pen tool drag it to the artboard. Drawing paths with the pen
tool is a bit different from the pencil tool in this you can select two points on
the artboard and a straight line is drawn between those points. You can draw
polygonal shapes/paths with pen tools. Paths using Pen tool is shown in the fig
below.
You can also draw curves using the pen tool, for this hold the mouse button while
you draw a line with pen tool and dragging it sideways. The fig below shows
curves created by the pen tool.
Line Tool : Line tools also provide the convenience in drawing straight line
paths/shapes. To avail this tool goto toolbox and select the line tool and drag it
to the artboard In case you don't find line tool hold down the mouse button on
either of rectangle or ellipse tool and the window that pops up will show line
tool.
The figure below shows the drawing using the line tool
Rectangle Tool : With this tool you are free to draw quadrilaterals of any
size freely on the artboard. This tool allows drawing precise figures as shown
in the fig below:
Ellipse Tool : This tool is also one of the tool in the same pop up window
that contain line and rectangle tool. This tool is also one of the important
tool when it comes to drawing figures and shapes. Adding circles and ellipse of
any size makes it reliable tool. Shapes and figures drawn using ellipse tool is
shown below :
Handling Objects by Object handles :
After the shapes, Controls etc have been added to the
artboard they can be modified in shape by object handles. Object handles can be
shown by clicking the object by selection tool, Using this you can do the
following functions on objects. With selection tool, clicking on the objects
shows small eight rectangular object on the boundaries of the object.:
Resizing : select the object with selection tool and stretch the objects
through the object handles visible on clicking over the object. now you can give
any size to the object manually.
Skewing : This handling is applicable on the line or paths only. In lines and
paths only the nodes are visible instead of the object handles as visible in
other objects. On moving the pointer at the middle of the object handle it
becomes a double arrow with slanted line in it, drag this line to skew the path.
Rotation: This is done by moving the pointer to the corner object handle of
the object and the a rotating arrow appears which shows the directions of
rotation.
Adjusting the center position: The center of the object shows a small
circular object handle which can be adjusted to any place. This tells that you
can now rotate the object from the center point where you move the center object
handle.
Corner handles : This object handle pulls the object diagonally to any
dimension, you will notice that through this object handle both height and width
of the object changes hence this is efficient way of resizing object.
The fig. below shows how all these object handles work with objects:
That's all in this article. hope you might be acquainted with adding vector objects and object handles. Working with these is much more interesting hope you will enjoy it. Please comment your views regarding this article.